A Tale of Two Android Phones

Image by dannysullivan via Flickr

It's about time we write about one of the newest and possibly-game changing smartphone OS out there: the Android.

For those who want to know what the Android is without going to Wikipedia, we've posted it here for you:

Android is a mobile operating system running on the Linux kernel. It was initially developed by Google and later the Open Handset Alliance. It allows developers to write managed code in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries.

If you're familiar with Linux as a free OS that's uber flexible that can run on any old computer, then imagine it in your mobile phone.

Is this end for T-Mobile G1?

One of the very first phones out there that had the Android was the T-Mobile G1. It was touted as "the Google Phone" and was considered as one of the best phones of its time. However it's OS: the Android 1.5 (loving nicknamed the Cupcake) maybe near its end.

According to Android software engineer Dave Sparks, a time is soon coming when devs "wont be able to fit the latest [Android] release on the G1's internal flash," and yet another engineer has chimed in via Twitter to say that he "can't promise" that any update after 1.5 will fit.

From what they're saying, it's more of a hardware problem than anything else. After that Engadget article was put up, a T-Mobile representative said:

"We plan to continue working with Google to introduce future software updates to the T-Mobile G1. Reports to the contrary are inaccurate."

Is there a miscommunication between Android developers and T-Mobile or is this just another way of you not ditching your G1 for an iPhone 3GS? Will there really be a new update for this legendary phone? Will we ever see the Donut in the T-Mobile G1? Only time will tell...

HTC Hero about to get a new update in ten days?

On the other end of the spectrum, the newly released HTC Hero Android OS maybe getting an update really soon! This was disclosed by an HTC customer Service e-mail:

“HTC is actively working on a software update that will make your experience on your Hero device better. A partial update is ready in 10 days and a major release will be available in mid-September containing local language support.. Please check our website from time to time and update your device when the software is available.”

The catch was that there was no info nor any details on what those updates will be. Is this another one of those "leaked" news coming straight from the Marketing Department? Why is this Android OS being updated so quickly as the T1 has been left at 1.5? A lot of questions, but it'll be a win/win for HTC Hero users nonetheless.

Nevertheless, updates are supposed to make your OS phone better and if the update does come, we'll be sure to cover it as soon as we get it.

Source for T-Mobile G1 Android OS update stopped?
Source for HTC Hero Android OS update